As we wrap up October’s UBC and I’ve been talking about my UK trip, I thought it’d be fun to confirm - or debunk - some classic clichés
Rainy, grey skies everywhere – ✅ Or at least partly true. It’s often cloudy, drizzle happens, but sunny spells exist!
Tea time is a must – ❌ Some Brits and Scots drink tea, yes, but coffee is also popular. Unless you stumble upon that place that stops serving coffee if they’ve already cleaned the machine!
Every village has sheep and rolling hills – ✅ Countryside charm is real, especially outside cities.
Historic castles on every corner – ❌ Lots of castles, but as a Swiss person, I was probably not as impressed. Our castle-to-square-meter ratio is higher.
Red phone booths – ✅ Still very prominent and photogenic, but most have been repurposed. Many now serve as ATMs, Wi-Fi hotspots, or mini-libraries, so they’re not just for phones anymore, but still fun for snapshots.
Iconic London landmarks – ✅ Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London… they’re impressive and photogenic, but mostly concentrated in central London.
Men in kilts and bagpipes in Scotland – ❌ Mostly for ceremonies, tourists, or themed events.
Haggis, fish & chips, and fried food galore – ✅ People really do eat these dishes frequently. After a few days, all the fried stuff started feeling a bit much for me, though.
Friendly yet reserved locals – ❌ We were pleasantly surprised! Especially middle-aged women were warm and talkative. The further north you go, the more “lovely” pops up: “Are you ready to order, my lovelies?” definitely made us smile.
Loch Ness monster sightings guaranteed – ❌ Sadly, Nessie was elusive—until our lunch in Inverness, where the legend felt very present!
Dramatic landscapes and scenic views – ✅ Absolutely true in both England’s countryside and Scotland’s Highlands.
Pints of beer in pubs – ✅ People really do spend a lot of time in pubs, especially in the evenings. Classic!
Accents everywhere – ✅ Oh yes, some are really hard to understand, even for experienced English speakers.
Queueing etiquette in England – ✅ Always in line, polite, and orderly. Very appreciated, especially coming from Swiss cities where cutting in is more common.
Fog/mist in cities – ❌ Surprisingly, we didn’t see much fog in London or the Highlands, though I’m sure it’s out there some days.
Black cabs & double-decker buses – ✅ Iconic and fun, but depending on the city, buses aren’t always red.
Have I covered all the clichés about traveling in the UK, or did I miss some? If you’ve been there, do you agree with my assessment?
I really enjoyed hearing what is true and what it is not. These cliche are very well known. I wish that I knew someone who actually tried haggis. I wouldn’t want to do it but I’m curious as to what it tastes like.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t know that they still have the phone booths but repurpose those. I love that. The very few left over phone booths here in the US that I have seem are just left there looking sad.